Brief Counseling May Curb Risky Drug Use

By Staff

US Pharm. 2015;40(11):11.

Los Angeles, CA—A brief intervention in the primary care setting could reduce risky drug use (casual, frequent, or binge use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs without signs of addiction). Participants in Project QUIT, a randomized, controlled trial conducted in medical clinics, reduced their risky drug use by one-third when primary care physicians and health coaches provided brief interventions during routine visits and follow-up phone calls. After 3 months, intervention patients (n = 171) used their favored drug a mean of 3.5 fewer days in the past month, compared with controls (n = 163). Since risky drug use can develop into drug addiction, this method could help fill an important gap in care for patients who use drugs.